Douluo: My Clone Is Groudon

Yue Guan didn't notice the slight offense in Lü Hongwen's thoughts, as he was still astonished by the effects of the Bone-Fortifying Ointment.

"Ingredients capped at no more than ten years of age, when combined, can actually provide a slight enhancement even to someone like me."

"Though the improvement is minimal, less than the strength of a single insect, and it requires time to expel impurities, what if we used herbs aged hundreds or even thousands—or tens of thousands—of years?"

Yue Guan knew that low-year formulas might not be suitable for high-year ingredients, but this didn't stop him from speculating about the potential effects of using higher-year materials.

"If we use ten-thousand-year-old herbs, as long as one can withstand the devastating impact of ambient origin energy on the body and retain the drug's principles, it could increase physical strength equivalent to handling a three-thousand-year soul ring."

"Soul masters are not rocks; their bodies are fragile. We'll need to add more herbs to tame the ambient energy, while also balancing the formula with additional ingredients..."

"No!"

Yue Guan suddenly shook his head, interrupting his own train of thought. "Bone Jade Bamboo is very common. By artificially burying bones near its roots, we'll never run out of Bone Jade Bamboo."

"But ten-thousand-year Bone Jade Bamboo is exceedingly rare—even rarer than ten-thousand-year Ginseng Kings. The main ingredient must be replaced."

Yue Guan froze, realizing that replacing both the auxiliary and primary ingredients essentially meant reworking the entire formula.

"Could this have been within Oak's expectations? Did he deliberately choose a common low-year ingredient, which becomes scarce at higher years, to avoid large-scale conflicts across the continent?"

The more Yue Guan thought about it, the more convinced he became, murmuring inwardly, "How terrifyingly insightful."

He asked, "Where is Oak? Did he say anything?"

Lü Hongwen had already inquired thoroughly: "Oak refused to join the Spirit Hall and concealed his identity when collecting his royalties."

"And he said that if the Spirit Hall doesn't publish this paper or attempts to find him, future papers will be sent to the top three sects instead."

"Indeed."

Yue Guan wore an expression of expected confirmation. "To ensure the entire continent sees his paper—is it for fame or something else?"

He couldn't figure it out.

Turning to Lü Hongwen, he instructed, "You may leave first. I will submit the paper to Her Holiness the Pope for final judgment."

"Yes, Elder."

Lü Hongwen bowed and took his leave.

Without delay, Yue Guan took the paper and ointment, ascended Spirit Mountain, and arrived outside the Papal Palace at the mountain's center.

The Holy Knights opened the ten-meter-high gates. As Yue Guan entered the Papal Palace, the sound of the doors closing echoed behind him. The hall was pitch black, save for a regal, elegant woman seated high above.

Pope Bibi Dong.

"Your Holiness, I have something to report."

Yue Guan summarized the paper and, along with the ointment, used his soul power to deliver them to Bibi Dong's side.

"Oh? Does it truly have such remarkable effects?"

Bibi Dong was intrigued.

"I wouldn't dare make false claims." Yue Guan explained his pharmacological reasoning and his predictions regarding high-year formulas.

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered. "So you're saying the author of this paper could develop body-strengthening drugs applicable throughout a soul master's life. He truly is a theoretical talent."

"If our Spirit Hall soul masters were to consume this Bone-Fortifying Ointment from a young age, their strength at the same level would surpass others by ten percent. As the duration of medication and training increases, the gap would only widen."

"Uh, Your Holiness, I have something further to report."

Yue Guan felt compelled to interrupt Bibi Dong.

"Speak."

Bibi Dong didn't take offense. Yue Guan was considered one of her trusted subordinates, handling most of her miscellaneous affairs, so she extended him some leniency.

Yue Guan breathed a sigh of relief. Since the death of the previous Pope, Bibi Dong's temperament had grown increasingly unpredictable. As a Title Douluo, he was all too aware of the Pope's terrifying power, and he dared not make a single misstep.

"The herbs in the formula are quite common, but if we aim to maintain daily supply, each soul master below Soul Elder rank would require a minimum of five thousand gold coins per year. For those below Soul King rank, their increased ability to metabolize the drug would double the cost."

"By extension, and considering that the drug's effects can never match those of soul rings or soul bones, even the Spirit Hall would struggle to afford widespread promotion of the Bone-Fortifying Ointment."

"In my view, continuous use of the ointment for three years offers the best cost-to-benefit ratio. It would allow soul masters to challenge nine-thousand-year soul rings at the fourth ring."

"At the same time, physical training also strengthens willpower. Perhaps a few prodigies might be able to withstand the mental shock of ten-thousand-year soul rings earlier than usual. If we see an unprecedented ten-thousand-year fourth ring, it would bring great prestige to the Spirit Hall."

As a Title Douluo, Yue Guan naturally understood that the greatest challenge for soul masters absorbing ten-thousand-year soul rings wasn't physical endurance but the mental shock caused by the residual soul of the spirit beast within the soul ring.

This was one of the ideas Gu La had mentioned in the paper, laying the groundwork for his future appearance of soul ring configurations beyond conventional limits.

Understanding Yue Guan's perspective, Bibi Dong asked, "Is all of this mentioned in the paper?"

"Precisely what Oak wrote in the paper. In my judgment, Oak must have solid grounds for his claims, or perhaps he has even seen soul masters who absorbed soul rings beyond their limits. This explains the unusual certainty in his wording."

Bibi Dong lightly tapped her jade-like fingers on the armrest, deep in thought.

Yue Guan continued, "Oak even dared to threaten that if the Spirit Hall doesn't publish his paper, he will send his next papers to the top three sects."

"Hmm?"

Bibi Dong let out a soft hum, her voice tinged with displeasure. She harbored no fondness for the top three sects. A fleeting burst of intense pressure dissipated as she laughed bitterly:

"Brazen and reckless individuals often possess real talent and learning. Arrogance comes naturally to such people."

After offering her praise, Bibi Dong composed herself and spoke indifferently: "Yue Guan, this task falls to you. Find him and bring him back to the Spirit Hall."

Yue Guan: "..."

Sometimes it was truly exasperating. Without any leads, where was he supposed to search?

But he didn't dare refuse, so he accepted the mission.

"As you command."

Yue Guan calmly added, "I believe that Oak wouldn't dare issue such threats unless he has unpublished papers in his possession."

"He must believe the value of his papers will make us back down. Otherwise, I can't imagine what gives him the confidence to threaten the Spirit Hall."

Accepting the task didn't mean he had to carry it out immediately.

In a subtle manner, Yue Guan attempted to dissuade Bibi Dong. Catching his underlying meaning, Bibi Dong pondered for a moment, recalling the stubborn figure in her mind. Softening slightly, she ultimately decided not to insist.

"Then maintain contact with him. Demand that he prioritize submitting his papers to the Spirit Hall for review. If he has any requests, the Spirit Hall will consider them accordingly."

Bibi Dong believed this was a reasonable offer. For the continent's leading faction to collaborate with an independent scholar was already lowering their stance. She hoped Oak wouldn't be ungrateful.

Though, unbeknownst to her, Gu La had no intention of seeking benefits from the Spirit Hall anyway.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Yue Guan bowed in agreement.

Bibi Dong nodded and said, "Elder Yue, your expertise in pharmacology makes you the ideal person to oversee the promotion of this medicine."

"First, acquire a batch of herbs across the continent. Then publish the paper. Use the medicine as a lure to attract soul masters to join the Spirit Hall."

The Spirit Hall wasn't short on funds. Like others, Bibi Dong had thought of stockpiling goods to drive up prices—but her goal was to recruit soul masters into the Spirit Hall.

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